observational study

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-019279",
  "term": "observational study",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. A study in which the investigators do not manipulate the use of, or deliver, an intervention (e.g., do not assign patients to treatment and control groups), but only observe patients who are (and sometimes patients who are not as a basis of comparison) exposed to the intervention, and interpret the outcomes. These studies are more subject to selection bias than experimental studies such as randomized controlled trials.\n\n2. A study in which the investigator observes rather than influences exposure and disease among participants. Case-control and cohort studies are observational studies.\n\n3. A data collection strategy in which the activities of subjects are visually examined. The observer attempts to keep his/her presence from interfering in or influencing any behaviors.\n\n4. A study in which the investigators do not manipulate the use of, or deliver, an intervention (e.g., do not assign patients to treatment and control groups), but only observe patients who are (and sometimes patients who are not as a basis of comparison) exposed to the intervention, and interpret the outcomes. These studies are more subject to selection bias than experimental studies such as randomized controlled trials. [NLM/NICHSR 2004]",
  "subject": "Health and safety",
  "references": [
    "NLM/NICHSR 2004",
    "CDC Glossary of Epidemiology Terms",
    "Program Evaluation Glossary",
    "Thesaurus of Terms Used in Microbial Risk Assessment"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/observational-study/"
}